These are two very serious issues.
First, Ryuji's target is the Dragon Vein.
If he seizes the Dragon Vein first, then there would be no Fourth Hokage's seal, no Naruto time-travel, and no Anrokuzan.
This would disrupt this closed-loop-like timeline.
Ryuji needed to consider the consequences of timeline disruption.
Would the timeline auto-correct, or would parallel worlds with different development trajectories emerge?
Different consequences require different preparations.
And the second issue...
This is an Anime World, full of fate and destiny.
Ryuji needed to consider whether the reality of his transmigration would still follow the established fate trajectory.
Although Ryuji's experiences in this world never appeared in the original work, the events of Sasori assassinating the Third Kazekage, followed by attacks from neighboring villages, still occurred.
Although the specific process and results changed, proving original fate could be altered, this was just background mentioned by some side character, too distant from Naruto, the protagonist.
Only by confirming that the fate of Naruto, the protagonist, or those around him could be changed would it prove this world developed according to each individual's path, not revolving around a single person.
If this world truly revolved around Naruto, the protagonist, then Ryuji wouldn't hesitate… he'd go cling to Konoha's thigh and promote social harmony.
If not, then he'd lead Sunagakure to compete for supremacy.
"Parallel worlds emerging after timeline disruption would be best. If it's correction, I'd likely face Naruto and the Fourth Hokage's team... Test it out. At worst, I'll just die once."
After considering various possible situations, Ryuji calmly read his book… a reward obtained from a sign-in a week ago.
A manga: The Two Earths.
…
Time passed slowly. The sun set and rose again from the horizon. After three such cycles, a majestic city appeared at the horizon.
The tank stopped.
Ryuji opened the top hatch and observed with binoculars.
It was a city with numerous towering structures. Every building was tall, linked to each other by various skybridges. Occasionally, giant mechanical puppets patrolled the sky, like a city in the air.
"Tch, installing Chakra Thrusters on every puppet… such extravagance!" Ryuji put down the binoculars, speaking enviously.
Installing thrusters on puppets... Ryuji had done it too, and his exoskeleton armor had them.
However,
The thrusters he researched used Chakra as fuel for combustion, not directly jetting Chakra.
After all, the Chakra Consumption for that was too high.
Ryuji simply couldn't afford it.
"It must be because Mukade is too stupid to design a fuel conversion device, hence such waste."
But whether he couldn't design it or had so much Chakra he didn't need to bother designing one was entirely unknown.
Ryuji was just being sour over Mukade having infinite Chakra to squander.
Still, sour as he was, Ryuji didn't let jealousy cloud his judgment.
He pondered for a moment and made a decision: First, scout the situation, see if Naruto and the Fourth Hokage were there.
Thinking this, he dispatched the Scarab puppet army.
Densely packed insects crawled toward the majestic city underground.
"Now, it's a waiting game."
This wait lasted a day.
At night, under the bright moonlight, the densely packed Scarab army crawled out from underground.
They had returned with intelligence.
Roran's terrain, building layout, personnel distribution, and situation... The autonomous, intelligent puppet insects recorded everything.
"Naruto isn't here. No Konoha's Shinobi found. Sara is still the puppet princess. The men in Roran have been captured to work in underground factories making puppets... It seems the Lost Tower plot hasn't arrived yet. Then I'll strike first."
…
In the city of towering structures, countless people reveled.
Beautiful music, people's cheers, released balloons... Standing by the central tower's railing, Sara looked at all this, a relieved smile on her face.
Although her mother died early, with only a cold Anrokuzan by her side, seeing her people living happily made her genuinely happy.
At least, her mother's wish was realized.
"You look so happy; I almost can't bear to shatter this illusion."
The unfamiliar voice from behind made Sara pause.
She slowly turned around. A youth about her age, with reddish-brown short hair, stood there smiling.
If not for the shattered puppet guards scattered behind the youth, Sara might have been happy to meet someone her age.
But now, she only thought about how to call for help.
Although she had been lost in thought earlier, such large puppets shattered on the ground, and she hadn't noticed at all.
If this man wanted to kill her, he could certainly do it before she made a sound.
Sara covered her mouth, trying hard to suppress the urge to scream.
But the unknown danger still filled her with terror, her petite body trembling uncontrollably.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I just want you to do one thing." Ryuji tried to soften his tone to soothe the girl, but it had little effect.
The girl seemed even more frightened.
"W-What do you want me to do?"
While dealing with the youth, she subtly observed her surroundings, seeking an escape route.
Unfortunately, on this balcony, behind her was a drop of several hundred meters.
And the only path was blocked by the youth.
"The Dragon Vein!"
"What!?"
The youth's words caught the girl's attention. Her wary eyes fixed on him. "I won't help you."
"I don't need your help."
As the youth spoke, the girl felt something connecting to her body, like raindrops falling on her.
Her hands, feet, and head all had this sensation.
"I just want to borrow your body."
The youth continued, and then her body moved uncontrollably, following the youth into the tower.
"Don't shout. I'll kill you before you make a sound, then continue using your body to open the seal."
"N-no, the seal has always been open!"
The girl's words made the youth halt.
Ryuji turned back, glaring at her fiercely as if saying, 'Just had to speak up, didn't you?'
Then, he continued controlling her to move inside.
"Then seal it shut."
"Huh?"
Sara was bewildered.
As a child, she witnessed her mother combining the Dragon Vein with technology brought by Anrokuzan, instantly building thousands of towers… a miracle.
She was also told by her mother and Anrokuzan about the Dragon Vein's importance.
She deeply understood that such power, if exposed, would attract countless covetous eyes.
'But if this youth's target was the Dragon Vein, why would he want to seal it when it was already open?'